Respecting the game they played, Burnley interim manager Mike Jackson hopes the players will bounce back.

The 36th round of the 2025/26 Premier League season will feature another crucial match, with already relegated Burnley hosting Aston Villa at Moor Stadium. Interim manager Mike Jackson stated that the players must maintain a professional attitude in every game and need to regain their form and bounce back.

In the last round of the Premier League, Burnley, after trailing by 3 goals, lost 1-3 to Leeds United thanks to a goal from Lum Chauna assisted by Jadon Anthony.

Burnley interim manager Mike Jackson said, "The atmosphere was definitely a bit volatile at the start of the week, but we have to keep moving forward. We must remain professional, respect the competition we're in, and find ways to reignite the players' form and get the team energized again."

“We had a discussion at a meeting a few days ago, and Josh Cullen also spoke individually with the whole team, which went very well. We’ve been discussing how to approach the rest of the season, how to represent the club, the fans, and ourselves.”

Mike Jackson pointed out, "We are in a very difficult situation right now, but from a broader perspective, we are actually very lucky to be able to make a living by playing football. Things are tough now, but there are many things in this world that are much more difficult than this."

"For us, the most important thing this week is to reconnect, regain our energy, and find our identity as a team, and then start working again."

In addition, Aston Villa, managed by Emery, defeated Nottingham Forest 4-1 on aggregate in the second leg of the Europa League semi-final, thanks to goals from Watkins, Buendia and McGinn, and successfully advanced to the final.

Speaking about their upcoming opponents, Mike Jackson said, "I think the result of that game will give them renewed confidence. They are a very good team and a very good coach. I enjoy watching them play; they have a very distinctive style of play, and you can clearly see what they are doing."

“We haven’t performed well enough at home this season, and I think the fans deserve more from us, but at the same time, we really need them, and in some ways we owe them something. This is our home game, so we need to try to create intensity and attack proactively, and play as competitively as possible. For us, the most important thing right now is to finish the season in a positive way.”

In addition, Mike Jackson stated, "There's a lot of disappointment right now, and I completely understand and empathize with that. We will take responsibility for what has happened, and the players understand that. We don't want to shirk responsibility, we don't want to make excuses, and we certainly don't want anyone to pity us."

"The focus is not on this, but on rebuilding relationships with fans, starting afresh, and looking toward the future."

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